Bomb for use with aeroplanes and other flying-machines.



H. s. MAXIM. l BOMB POB USB WITH AEBOPLANBS AND OTHER FLYING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAB..25. 1912. 1,077,990.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Patented Nov. 11, 1913.

Witnsses. t

Y H. S. MAXIM. BOMB POR USB WITH AEBOPLANES AND OTHER FLYING MACHINES.

` APPLICATION FILED M.AB.25, 1912.

Patentdy Nov. 11, 1913.

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Y. H. s. MAXIM. BOMB FOB. USE WITH AEROPLANES AND OTHER FLYING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAB.25. 1912.

Patented N0v.'11,191 3.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

1 @NSK Witnesses 2 a MMM.

UNITED STATES PATENT oE-EICE.

\ HIRAM STEVENSl MAXIM, OF LONDON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TO VICKEBS LIMITED, 0F

WESTMINSTER, ENGLAND.

BOMB FOR USE WITH AEROPLANES AND OTHER FLYING-MACHINES.

To all `whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, HIRAM STEVENS MAXIM, a subject of the King of Great vBritain, residing at Ryeeotes, Dulwich Common, in the county of London, England,l

is retained in a position remote from themain charge until the bomb is discharged or released. v

In connection with. the use of bombs it is necessary for e'ective working that the firing should take place so as to aord the liighest degree of destruction whether of' e or property, as earthworks, forts or other erections.

According to this invention the bomb is adapted to beexploded at a predetermined distance above or from the ground, object or` target, by the initial impact of the bomb or of a part pertaining thereto and in order to accomplish the objects aimed at, the bomb 1s provided with a device adapted to precede the bomb in its travel toward the target so that the firing of the main charge may be brought about when the bomb is in the most favorable position for performing effective work. For the same purpose, the device may be adapted by means of suitable electric circuits to eiiect the firing of the main charge when the latter has arrived at a predetermined distance from the earth.

` The shell or casing of the lbomb may, in the usual manner, be formed or provided with grooves' with or without a loading of metal fragments or balls'or the like having the interstices between the same filled with a high explosive, so that destructive frag-Y ments or bodies are disseminated .or spread by the explosion, the eifect of the latter being thusproductive of the desired destruction, in regard both to life and buildings or erections. The aforesaid device may comprise a projecting piece of the character of a nose adapted `for detachment upon the release` of the bomb from the machine or balloon and to assume the function of a pilot Speeication of Letters Patent.

to the bomb. Thevdeyvice may be in connection or communication with the bombltby means of chain, cord or wire connection; the rear or other part of the bomb being provided with a retarding device adaptedto arrest the too rapid descenty of the bomb although not impeding the descent of the pilot. Thus the pilot upon the discharge of the bomb is allowed to travel away from the latter and when the pilot strikes the ground or target the said pilot by means of suitable devices effects the firing of the main charge in the bomb. The height at which the explosion of the main charge will take place will depend upon the length of the connection between thebomb and the pilot or upon the strength of the explosive charge ory the like effecting the rebounding of the bomb after it has struck the ground.

The term pilot employed in the following description and claims is indicative of a dey vice which precedes the bomb and has relative movementl to some distancetherefrom.'

In order that the said invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into eil'ect I will proceed to 'describe the same with reference-to 'the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is an elevation showing the im proved bomb attached to the aeroplane or flying machine. Fig. 2 is a partial sectional view of the aforesaid bomb. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the tubular extension thereon showing the detonating charge and parachute in the inoperative position. Figs. 4 and 5 are detail views of the pilot device. Fig. 6 is a partial sectional view of another form of the improved bomb. Fig..7 is a sectional `view of the tubular extension thereon. Fig.`8 is an end view of such extension. Fig. 9 is a section of the pilot device showing the internal mechanism. Fig. v10 is a detail thereof. Figs. 11 and 12 are detail views of the shell or casing of the bomb. Fig. 13 is a sectional view of a form of the bomb which on exploding is adapted to dis? Patented Nov. 11, 1913.; l

Application led March 25, 1912. Serial No. 686,002.

bomb is exploded. The shell a is provided with an internal hollow member a2 which ext-ends beyond said casing to form a tail piece a3 and said tail piece is provided with a number of hinged members a which, when the bomb is released, are adapted to extend in the same manner as an umbrella to constitute a parachute. If desired a suitable fabric or the like may be arranged on or spread over the said members. The members a* are hinged to the tail piece a3 at a5 and are retained in the closed position by a band a carried by the machine. One or more of the members a4 may be provided with an extension a7 which is adapted to enter a corresponding opening or aperture as formed in the tail piece a3 lof the bomb. The extension (LT enters the opening a* when the parachute is in the closed position, and serves to retain an auxiliary or detonating charge a at the extremity of the tail piece remote from the main charge of picric acid or other high explosive contained in the space between the shell a and the internal hollow member a2. YVhen the members a4 are extended the auxiliary or det'- onating charge is free to move toward the main charge into the firing position. The bomb is secured to thea-'raming b of the aeroplane or flying machine by means of a rod or bolt b which isa'dapted to engage with openings b2 formed in lugs b3 carried by the shell of the bomb. Thefabomb rests in saddle pieces b4 on the framing b and by operating the lever or handle b5 the rod o may be released from the lugs b3 and the bomb liberated. Said lever b5 is also adapted to operate another rod be so as to release the band a which normally` retains the members a;4 of the parachute in the inoperative position.

A pilot in the form of a nose piece or weight 7)? is placed in the forward end of the casing a, a tether or cord 68 being connected therewith and wound about a cylinder or drum b9 connected to a shaft b1 and having a ratchet or similar wheel c associated therewith in such a manner that the running outl of the cord b8 by the liberation of the weight 117 has the effect of turning the ratchet backward. Thus upon the release of the bomb from the flying or other machine the weight bf falls ahead of the bomb, as this latter is retarded by the action of the parachute and pulls out the cord bs and rotates t-he drum Z1". The shaft or spindle b1 is screw threaded and the drum b9 is adapted to traverse the same when it is rotated by the unwinding of the cord bs. This traversing Inovement of the drum will bring a projection c thereon into engagement with a projection c2 carried by the ratchet wheel c and will cause the same to rotate. The ratchet wheel c "s connected to the shaft b1 by means of a spring c3 of spiral or other suitable form. and when lthe weight b has gotto the end of its tether the stress of the spring c is equal to the weight. Therefore, the effect of the weight touching the ground or target is to slacken the cord o8 and release the tension on the spring and allow the same to effect the rotation of the ratchet wheel 0 in the forward direction. The ratchet wheel c will thus engage with a detent or trigger c* adapted to liberate the firing pin 05 which has been previously" operated to assume the cocked position and which then effects the firing of the charge. The framing I) of the machine is provided with a depending pin or arm 06 which is adapted to engage with the member c7, and hold -the firing pm 05 in the fully cocked positionso rendering thev apparatus secure from premature firing until the said pin or arm c recedes from the bomb, or the latter is released from the flying machine. In this connection, it maybe mentioned that the safety also resides inthe fact that it is necessary for the cord bs to be extended to its full length and for the spring c3 to be wound, also the auxiliary charge a to be in position before the firing of the main charge can take place. When the striker c5 is released it will strike the primer 08 and fire the detonator 09 which in turn will effect the firing of the detonating charge a".

An arrangement, adapted for electrical operation is shown in Figs. 6 to 12 and comprises an auxiliary or fulminating charge a9 housed in the rea-r of the central tubular case or elongated chamber a2 the forward portion of which passes through the bomb. The latter consists of a metallic casing a of elongated or approximately c lindrical form, the fore part of the aforesaid tube a2 being provided with a common exploder e such as used for exploding dynamite. In order to facilitate the breaking up of the casing a when the main charge therein is exploded a number of external and internal grooves or depressions a Figs. 6 and 12 ma. be formed in said casing. A suitable electrical connection e2 is coiled at the forward end of the tube a2 in a detachable hollow nose or cap e3 having a battery e4 arranged therein. The bomb is carried by or suspended from the aeroplane, flying machine or balloon by means of lugs b3, not shown in this arrangement, but previously described in connection with the first arrangement, la readily detachable pin b passing through the said lugs. A depending pin or arm c6 on the framing of the machine passes through an opening e5 in the shell a of the bomb and the tube a2 and serves to retain the detachable nose or pilot e3 to the bomb.

A disk or block of non-conducting material e is arranged on the front end of the pilot e3 and carries a flexible plate c which is adapted to make contact with a number of pins e7 arranged in the electrical circuit when the pilot strikes the obj eet or target, or

the device may comprise some other lig-ht Thepilot 'is"electrical1y connected with,

theexploder e by `means` of the twin lead e2 which isvound on a drum or spool e Fig. 9 carried thereby. The drum e is mrunted on a scr'ewedftspindle e10 vso that when the pilot rotatedjfandwill move with said spindle unytil it meets and makes Contact with the member c arranged 1n the'clrcuit ofthe battery e4. p `Two contact devices are thus provided 'an'd the circuit ofthe battery is incomplete until'both Vdevices have been oper- 30 ated to make contact. t v

'Assumingthe bomb to be secured to the frame of theaeroplane, flying machine or balloon in a manner such as hereinbefore reerred to in which position the auxiliary bomb or detonator a is e'ectually prevented from moving forward into the tubular chamber a2 by the members a* of uhe parachute and therefore impossible of beingffired by the exploder e in the bomb, and the switch eein the open position, upon the -release of the bomb the whole apparatus falls 'away from t-hemachine leaving the depending pin'por arm e and theband `a,V not shown'in these figures, securing the retard'- ing membersfahanging from the machine.

Thus the auxiliary/'charge a9 isfr'eed by the opening ofthe members a*y of the rretardingr means. and lenters theftubular chamber at and-'at thesame time the nose orl cap e3 40 which contains the battery e* is released and owingftdthe retarding device or parachute \vhich"t,en`d s`,to hold the bomb back, While the-cap; or pilot e3 travels or gravitates l `away from' the bomb, draws Iout its tether lineor'elec'trical conductor. e2 until a suitable distance in advance of the bomb when the whole apparatus travels together. This movement of the pilot effects the operation of the drum e? and the contact device per- 5e taining thereto. The nose or cap upon reaching the ground or'target, by means of the spring or other light contact plate e ,provided thereon, completes the circuit of the battery e4, whereupon a current is sent "\through the exploder e, and, as the auxiliary charge or detonator a has in the meantime arrived in close proximity to the said exploder. the said auxiliary charge is fired, the tubular chamber a2 is ruptured and the main charge exploded. The exploder e is usually of'such a character as to be effective,

forffiring the auxiliary charge a", only when the latter is in closeproximity thereto. It will thus be seen that the bomb comprises a main charge of high explosive adapted for being fired or exploded by means of an auxiliary charge a capable of passing from the rear to'the fore end of the apparatus and that the firing is dependent in mest cases upon a pilot device d' adapted to travel in advance of the bomb when the same yis released from the iying or other machine, the said pilot device carryingl means for firing electrically or mechanicallv the auxiliary charge and through vthe latter the main charge whilethe bombv is still elevated some distance from the ground. is released-'from' the jbombthe ldrum will be So as to insure the destructive eiect of the explosion ofthe bomb the latter may be adapted or constructed as shown in Fig. 13

80 so as to dissemlnate fragmentsof lmetal or lmaterial. An outer casing a of steel is disposed about an inner casing ax which 1s filled with picric acid either pure or in a slightly modified condition so as to 'render it easier of melting` or more insensitive. The annular space a between the two casings a, ac is filled with tough steel balls, g', and the interstices g2 between the balls with. picric acid. The said balls may be produced as rough castings, or otherwise, hardened and tempered so as to withstand shock without beingI shattered. The detonating charge a and the firing pin c are retained in the linoperative position by the dependlng arms or members f, the detonating charge is however shown in the firing position. What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is l. In a bomb for use with aeroplanes or flying machines, the combination of a main explosive charge, a detonating charge and an impacting part located at a predetermined distance in advance of the bomb and operatively connected with the Vdetonating charge, whereby the main charge is exploded at a predetermined distance above or from the ground, object or target after impact with the latter of the said impactino part.

2. In a bomb for use with aerop anes or flying machines, the combination of a main .explosive charge, a detonatlng charge, means for retarding the motion of the bomb during its descent, and an' impactingl part located at a predetermined distance in advance of the bomb and operatively connected with the detonatin charge, whereby the main charge is exp oded at a predetermined distance above or from the ground, object or target after impact with the latter of the said impacting part.

3. In a bomb. for use with aeroplanes or flying machines, the combination of a main explosive charge, a detonating charge, a parachute for retarding the motion of the bomb during its descent, and an impacting part located at a predetermined distance in advance of the bomb and o eratively connected with the detonatin charge, w ereby the main charge is exploed at a predeterf 13.0

.45; main charge, a spring mined idistance above or from the ground, object or target after impact with the latter of the said impacting part.

4. In a bomb for use with aeroplanes or flying machines, the combination of a main explosive charge, a detonating charge capable of moving relatively to the main charge, and a pilot device for eX loding said charges at a predetermined is'tance above or from the ground, object or target. 5. In a bombffor use with aeroplanes or flying machines, the combination of a main charge of high explosive, a detonating charge capable of moving relatively to the 1Q main charge, a parachute for retarding the motion of the bomb during its descent and a pilot device for exploding said charges at a predetermined distance above or from the ground, object or target.

2 0.l 6.- In a bomb for use with aeroplanes or flying machines, the combination of a main charge of high explosive, a detonating charge capable of moving relatively to the main charge,"a parachute for retarding the motion of the bomb during its descent, and

a firing device which when the bomb 1s released assumes a position in advance thereof so as'to explode the detonating and main charges a predetermined distance above or 311,' from the ground, object or target.

7. In a bomb for use with aeroplanes or flying machines the combination of'a main charge of high explosive, a detonating charge capable of moving relatively to the .3&1 main charge, and a firing device which,

when the bomb is released, assumes a position lin advance thereof so as to explode the -detonating and main charges a predetermined distance above or from the ground,

.40.' object or target.

8. In a bomb for use with aeroplanes or flying machines the combination of a main charge of high explosive, a detonating charge capable of moving relatively to the controlled shaft, a

firing mechanimi assoclated therewith and a pilot device which is operatively connected to said spring controlled shaft so as to effect the winding thereof during the descent of the bomb and to release the same when the bomb is a predetermined distance above or from the ground, object or target.

9. In a bomb for use, with aeroplanes or flying machines, the combination of a main charge of high explosive, a detonating charge capable of moving relatively to the main charge, a parachute which becomes operative when the bomb is released from the machine and which is adapted to retain the detonating charge in the inoperative position until such release is effected and a pilot device for exploding said detonating charge at a predetermined distance above or from the ground, object or target.

10. In a bomb for use with aeroplanes or iiying machines the combination of a main charge of high explosive, a detonating charge capable of moving relatively to the main charge, a spring controlled shaft a firing mechanism associated therewith,l a parachute which becomes operative when the bomb is released from the machine and which is adapted to retain the detonatin charge in the inoperative position until4 suc release is effected and a pilot device for ex- 7.- ploding said detonating charge at a; predetermined distanceabove or from the ground, object or target. A

11. In a bomb for use with aeroplanes or flying machines the combination of a casing formed or provided with grooves, scoring or indentations, a main charge of high explosive, a detonating charge capable of moving relatively to' the main charge into the operative position during the descent of the o bomb, a parachute for retarding the motion of the bomb during its descent and a pilot device adapted to precede the-bomb and to fire the detonating charge 'a predetermined distance above the ground, object or target.' 90

12. In a bomb for use with aeroplanes or flying machines the combination of a casing 'formed orl providedl with grooves, scoring or indentations, a loading of metal'frag# ments having' the inter'stices between the 95 same filled with a high explosive, a main charge of high lexplosive, `a detonating charge capable of moving relatively -to the main charge, a parachute for rctarding the. motion of the bomb during its descent and a pilot device adapted to precede the bomb and to explode the detonating charge a predetermined distance above the ground, object or target.

In testimony whereof I aiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HIRAM STEVENS MAXIM. Witnesses:

HARRY A'. LYoNs, CH. BRAsHEARs BEYLARD. 

